More and more of us are choosing to go on staycation holidays in the UK, and the popularity of camping in particular shows no sign of stopping. What’s not to love? There’s no mad dash to the airport, all the comforts of home are on your doorstep and it’s much cheaper too!
We’ve had quite a few debates at Motors.co.uk HQ as to what makes the best car for camping in the UK, so we’ve put together a guide to help narrow down your search. Plus, it’s not just campers who will find this useful; caravanners, large families and people who don’t pack lightly are sure to find the car that suits them here!
Volvo V70
Volvo is renowned for its safety features and this estate is no exception. It has a collapsible back row with two stage child safety seats, offering the perfect peace of mind when travelling long distances with smaller members of the family. The latest safety feature is Brake.Stop.Safe, which prepares the car for unexpected hazards – the brakes are tuned to respond faster and they automatically brake if an accident is imminent. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Volvo without a cavernous boot.
Citroen C5
Appearances can be deceptive; although this sleek saloon might not look like it would suit a trip to a muddy field, don’t underestimate how some nifty design features have helped make this the ideal all-rounder. The saloon body type means it won’t look out of place in the office car park, while the concave rear window allows easy access to the boot – crucial when trying to cram all your belongings back into it at the end of your trip. Options include a very efficient Blue HDi engine with start stop technology, resulting in a low tax band – perfect for long commutes and countryside adventures.
Nissan Qashqai
The Qashqai has recently been voted Motors.co.uk’s best family car and is the ideal holiday partner. Its 4×4 style allows for bulky belongings to be piled high in the boot and the back seats are large – comfortable for tall teens to sit (almost) happily for the whole journey. Plus, it has a huge range of additional technology add-ons – although adding more music options could end in some heated debates!
Ford Galaxy
If your family extends beyond 2.4 children, then you need a car that not only has enough room to seat everyone (including huge car seats) but also has enough room for the larger tent, bulkier bags and multiple essentials – a tall order. However, the Galaxy could be the perfect match. The seven seater people carrier has flexible seating and the Easyfold system lets you fold each second row seat flat at the touch of a button. Powerfold also makes loading heavy items a little less time consuming with its automatic third row lowering and raising setting.
VW Touareg
This might just be the best 4X4 for staycationing. Coming from Volkswagen it’s reliable – important on those coast to coast overnight journeys – and luxurious too. It has a large engine and permanent four wheel drive so it won’t let you down when you’re parking on questionable ground in the rainy summertime weather. It’s also not too imposing like some other SUVs can be, even coming with parking sensors as standard if you’re not used to driving such a large vehicle.
